This is generally appropriate for small detachments.īased on the characteristics of the detachment, a retina specialist can determine which approach is most suitable. Laser surgery-In certain cases, a retinal detachment can be walled off with laser to prevent the retinal detachment from spreading.The tear itself is sealed either with a freezing treatment at the time of the procedure, or with laser after the retina is re-attached. Pneumatic retinopexy-In this office-based procedure, a gas bubble is injected into the eye and the patient maintains a specific head posture to position the gas bubble over the retinal tear.The eye is then filled with a gas bubble to hold the retina in place while it heals. The surgeon may then use a laser or cryopexy to seal the retinal tears or holes. Vitrectomy-In this surgery, three small incisions are made in the white part of the eye and fine instruments are manipulated using an operating microscope to remove the vitreous gel that fills the eye and drain the fluid from under the retina.The fluid under the retina is sometimes removed at the time of surgery. The tear is treated with a freezing treatment to induce controlled scarring around the tear and permanently seal it. Scleral buckle-In this surgery, a silicone band is placed outside the eye wall to push the wall of the eye closer to the retinal tear in order to close the tear.Several approaches can be employed to repair a retinal detachment: The goal of treatment is to re-attach the retina to the back wall of the eye and seal the tears or holes that caused the retinal detachment. Previous eye surgery such as cataract surgery.Family history of retinal tears or retinal detachment.Lattice degeneration (thinning in the peripheral retina, or the area outside of the central retina.).Risk factors for developing a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment include This type of retinal detachment is much less common and can occur in eyes with abnormal inflammation or excessive leakage from abnormal blood vessels. Exudative (ex OO day tive) retinal detachments form when fluid leaks out of blood vessels and accumulates under the retina.This type of retinal detachment may occur from diabetes or other conditions. Tractional retinal detachments are caused by scar tissue that grows on the surface of the retina and pulls the retina off the back wall of the eye.Retinal tears can develop when the vitreous gel separates from the retina as part of aging or in patients with abnormal thinning in the peripheral retina (known as lattice degeneration) or occasionally from trauma. They are caused by a hole or tear in the retina that allows fluid to pass through and collect underneath the retina, detaching it from its underlying blood supply. Rhegmatogenous (reg ma TODGE uh nus) retinal detachments are the most common type.In general, retinal detachments can be categorized based on the cause of the detachment: rhegmatogenous, tractional, or exudative. The severity of the symptoms is often related to the extent of the detachment.

In other cases of retinal detachment, patients may not be aware of any changes in their vision. When the retina is detached from the back wall of the eye, it is separated from its blood supply and no longer functions properly. The typical symptoms of a retinal detachment include floaters, flashing lights, and a shadow or curtain in the peripheral (noncentral) vision that can be stationary (non-moving) or progress toward, and involve, the center of vision.

Detached retina photo